He collapses on top of me, and I’m not sure if he’s swearing or praising the gods. I’m too spent to ask.
I’m too spent to move.
His mouth nuzzles into my neck. “You’re mine, Sol.”
ChapterForty-Four
The next day, true to my word, I take Lila to the market. But we aren’t alone. Hector appointed me with two guards after everything that had happened yesterday. He apologized profusely for not providing them sooner.
The crisp morning air fills my lungs as I stroll through the bustling streets next to Lila. My guards remain close as I stop at the drapers’ booth.
Lila’s eyes light up with excitement as she scans the colorful fabrics. Her fingers trace the edges of each cloth, feeling the textures and admiring the intricate patterns. She smiles as she finds a bright blue linen, and she immediately holds it up to her chest.
“Let’s get it,” I say.
“Truly?”
“Yes.” I pick up the bolt of fabric.
“Oh, my lady,” Lila gushes. “That’s far too generous.”
“You deserve it,” I say with sincerity.
In truth, she deserves far more. Like feeling safe.
I glance around, as if her husband is watching us from afar, but I don’t find anyone in the crowded market that looks menacing.
However, I cannot unsee the two crows perched on the rooftop of a nearby building. They’re the same impossibly large crows I have seen before. One of them even attacked the man who struck me. I lift my hand to my cheek, imagining the welt that had stayed there for days.
I ignore the crows, turn to the merchant, and pay for the material.
Gratitude shines in Lila’s eyes as I hand her the bolt of fabric. “Thank you.”
I nod and leave behind the draper, heading back to the palace. As we walk, she talks about her two older sisters, and how they have a lot of children. She even names all of them, but I have a hard time remembering the names.
When we near the palace walls, she clutches her material tight and thanks me again. I nod as she offers a smile, then hurries away to perform her duties inside the palace.
I’m left with a warm feeling in the center of my chest—the kind of feeling I haven’t had in a long time. I helped someone else today.
A laugh escapes me as I stare up at the blue sky. It feels marvelous to think of someone other than myself. The joy vanishes as a person approaches me. Instinctively, my hand tightens into a fist, and I tense as I think of being forced to defend myself.
As she pulls her cloak back, I inhale. The Seer greets me with a nod, and I return the gesture, unsure of what to say.
She glances at my guards standing behind me. “Give us a moment.”
They step out of earshot but remain close enough to watch me. Surprise strikes at my chest. I didn’t know the Seer had enough authority to command my guards.
“I wanted to speak to you without Hector,” she says.
So, you accost me?
Well, she hadn’t actually accosted me.
“Why?”
“The gods have shown more of your path to me,” she says. “And I want to tell you about it.”
My breath hitches. Every time I have spoken to her, she has bought me pain.
